Different Is Not the Same as Better
Bezos: True innovation is something that's not only an invention, but an improvement. It's not hard to make things different. But it is hard to make things different and better.
Most problems in the world already have solutions of one kind or another. All of those solutions can be improved upon — there's no chance that anything is perfected yet. But those solutions are highly evolved. People have been working on them for a long time.
It's not hard to make things different. It is hard to make things different and better.
Wheels on Suitcases
Bezos: Still — it wasn't that long ago somebody figured out you should add wheels to suitcases. Pretty good improvement.
It wasn't that long ago somebody put wheels on suitcases. Pretty good improvement.
Stubborn Relentlessness and Flexibility
Bezos: It's easy to have ideas. It's very hard to turn an idea into a successful product. There are a lot of steps in between. It takes persistence. Relentlessness.
You need a combination of stubborn relentlessness and flexibility. And you have to know when to be which. Be stubborn on your vision — because otherwise it'll be too easy to give up. But be very flexible on the details — because as you go along, you'll find that some of your preconceptions were wrong and you need to be able to change those things.
Taking an idea successfully all the way to the market and turning it into a real product that people care about and that really improves people's lives — that's a lot of hard work.
Be stubborn on the vision — otherwise it's too easy to give up. Be flexible on the details.